Through the Google Play Store, the next version of Android has been confirmed: Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. I'm hoping for just a single new feature: something to address the update mess. I don't care how, as long as they do something.

Having worked in the telecommunications area for a few years I can only confirm this.

It is all about selling more device units, not OS upgrades.

Still they could then charge for the upgrades, but that would be the device manufacturers doing, not the operators. And the operators can care less for what you have as mobile, as long as you can generate enough revenue for them.

OS upgrades are not revenue on most mobile operators eyes.

They never liked what Apple did to them, and that is one reason why the sales channels do not push WP7 phones, as WP7 has a similar model.

They couldn't care less about platform health, if Android dies they will switch to something else, with added bonus of tempting their users to upgrade.

Ha! What exactly would they switch to? The only real option to Android is Windows Phone and... well that's it really.

You really think Samsung, HTC, LG, Motorola, and Sony want to hitch their carts to Microsoft? Sure, most of them made Windows Phone devices initially, but half of them have been sued or extorted by Microsoft since - and now with Microkia being the golden child and the recent announcement of the Surface Tablet...

Being a Microsoft OEM isn't looking like such a hot idea anymore in the mobile space. Google doesn't dangle carrots in from of their OEMs and then kick them in the nuts...

Not that I doesn't agree with you that it sucks. But the fact is OEMS are not in platform curating business. That's in fact a huge distraction and pita for them. They were much happier pushing premium feature phones that added just one or two features every generation.